Expert: Irene Schwall - 9/6/2010

Question
QUESTION: Do you know if there is something missing on the front of this cabinet? There is a old brass rod. I have seen spool cabinets before but none like this. The drawer reads Star Brand with a star in the middle. Around the star reads The Best Ask for Again.

ANSWER: Hi Gene,
I do not know much about Star Brand spool cabinets but ... I believe that your cabinet would have had a tambour (roll top) front.
Regards,
Irene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your response. I see no sign of any side or bottom indication of wear or hardware where it would have attached. it appears to have nothing missing. The brass rod on the top may be an indicator of something such as a cloth curtain.
Thanks you for your answer.

Answer
Hi Gene,
These spool cabinets never ever had a cloth curtain.
They came with glass fronts, tambour fronts, and sometimes even wooden doors. If your cabinet has no evidence of any of these, then perhaps it never came with a front.
Do you think that the rod might have been added at a later date perhaps?
Regards,
Irene